Reform in the Former Soviet Union and China

A look at the similarities and differences in the economic and political reforms carried out by the (former) Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China.

`Both the Chinese Communist Party and the Soviet Communist Party were founded as Marxist revolutionary organizations dedicated to ending the oppression of the proletariat by overthrowing capitalism worldwide, establishing the dictatorship of the proletariat, and eventually, a classless society. Of course, neither the Chinese nor Soviet Communist Parties have achieved a classless society, indeed, Party Members are among the elite. As Party Members formed the upper-echelon of Chinese and Soviet society, and as top Party officials occupied the most elite positions in society, each Party began to lose its revolutionary zeal. The moderation of the Communist Parties was evidenced in the Soviet Union by Nikita Khrushchev’s destalinization program, and in China by Deng Xiaoping’s victory over the radical, Maoist `Gang of Four.` Reform has become the most significant trend in China and Soviet Union since 1980. In the Soviet Union, the reform effort has been marked by both significant economic and political reforms. In contrast, China has progressed significantly with economic reform, yet has not undergone political reform.`